How’s Your Deflector Shield?

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You may not know this but I’m kinda a syfy buff.

I am really partial to some of the old syfy movies like; the 1960’s Time Machine, 1956’s Forbidden Planet, 1959’s Journey to the center of the earth or 1951’s The Thing.

One of the things in a lot of syfy movies, especially space movies, have is what they call a deflector shield.

Its’s a shield that deflects the enemies attacks…

Create Tension

Believe it or not, we all have a deflector shield and the question I have is...

How’s your deflector shield?

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This is our fifth week talking about how to stand strong as a disciple of Christ. To do so we need to be equipped.

Putting on all of God’s armor - something we never take off

Feet equipped with the gospel of Peace

Girded about with truth as a belt

Our vital organs covered with Righteousness

And today I want to ask, “Hows your deflector shield?”

Ephesians 6:10–17 (NLT)

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith, but rather living faith, a trust in the promises and the power of God. Faith is a defensive weapon which protects us from Satan’s fiery darts.

So what is this living faith this shield of faith?

In the first century roman world there were many different types of shields. Two stand out, first there was a small round shield. This shield easy to carry and move around and was great for hand to hand combat. the second shield looked like this.

This shield was much larger and harder to carry and was used by an army to protect from an onslaught of arrows and spears.

It is the first of two pieces of armor listed here that we do not put on, but take up.

When a fully armored soldier wanted to rest he would put down his sword and shield and take off his helmet. But he never did this in battle, only at times of rest.

As long as we are in this world we are at war, a spiritual war and so we should always have all our armor in ready position.

One author says…

 We take up the shield of faith when we take up the truth we “amend” on Sunday and live it out on Monday.

Tony Evans

Tony Evans Speaks Out (2000)

Tony Evans

The shield of faith is not about what we believe but how we believe.

When Paul uses the term shield of faith he is not talking about your faith as a belief system, God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, our sin, and the like,

But he is talking about living faith, a faith that is lived out based on what you believe.

Jesus talked about living faith all the time, he said

your faith has healed you

Luke 8:48 “48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.””

Luke 18:42 “42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.””

you of little faith, 3 times Jesus says this to his disciples

Matthew 8:26 “26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”

Matthew 14:31 “31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?””

Matthew 16:8 “8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?”

I have not see such faith in all of Israel

Matthew 8:10 “10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”

Illustration:

When the great missionary John Payton was translating the scripture for the south sea islanders, he found there was no word in their vocabulary for “believe.” There was no word in their vocabulary for “trust” or “have faith.” He had no idea how he would convey it to them since they had no word for it.

One day as he was in his hut translating, a native came running, and running hard and fast; ran up the stairs and in, and just flopped himself in Payton’s study in a chair. And then he said to John Payton, “It’s so good to rest my whole weight in this chair.” And John Payton said. “I had my word; faith is resting your whole weight on God.”

Are you resting your whole weight on God?

Or or is that just reserved for Sundays? Do you only come to him only when things get difficult?

Do you rest your weight on God by loving your coworker that doesn’t do their job or thinks your a crazy christian?

Do you rest your weight on God by loving your spouse when they don’t live up to your expectations?

when they seem self-serving, when they don’t do what you asked, when they don’t show you affection you desire?

Do you rest your weight on God by serving others when it is costly to you?

your neighbor, your coworker, your church family?

Do you rest your weight on God by digging into his Word through study and cooperate worship?

Do you rest your weight on God by forgiving others…and not holding their actions against them?

Do you rest your weight on God by being diligent with your finances?

Do you rest your weight on God by letting him deal with your anger instead of you sinning in it?

Do you rest your weight on God by being diligent with your time?

I can give you a list of about 15 people in this church that not only are here every Sunday or Wednesday but also serve in other aspects of this church.

Resting your weight on God is being all in…with every aspect of your life!

Readying your shield of Faith is trusting God enough to do what he desires of you, and you do it with trust and ease.

The apostle Paul calls faith a shield. The man of faith can walk at ease, protected by his simple confidence in God. God loves to be trusted, and He puts all heaven at the disposal of the trusting soul.

Ephesians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–8

That Incredible Christian, 54.

A. W. Tozer

You need to have a deflector shield because there is someone out there to destroy you!

Satan is out to get you

1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:9a “Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith...

The only way to extinguish Satan’s flaming missiles of temptation to doubt God is to believe God, taking up the shield of faith.

John F. MacArthur

What are those fiery darts? The same thing in verse 11…The devil’s schemes.

Ultimately it is anything that will draw you away from being completely committed to God!

A little sin isn’t bad…

All unrepentant sin will lead to more sin, and eventually will lead to death because it will draw you away from God.

James 1:15 “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

Look at it like this…

Sinful actions are like poison to our spiritual lives, if we continue to consume it, it will bring us death. But with the right remedy, it brings new life.

Like Daniel in the lions den…

Our shield of faith may not keep of from facing danger but will keep us safe in the midst of Danger.

It is important to remember that…

Faith is only as valid as its object. You could have tremendous faith in very thin ice and drown.… You could have very little faith in very thick ice and be perfectly secure.

—Stuart Briscoe

Stuart Briscoe

If you have faith in thin ice it can destroy you, but a small amount of faith in very thick ice will keep you safe.

Be very careful where you put your faith…

Encourage Change

Do you have faith in the truth

Are you living out your faith, are you “taking up the shield of faith?” Holding it fast at all times?